Steering mechanism for motor vehicles



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,535 G. M. BACON STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 14, 1924 rock shaft E and are held from independentsacs,

career on GEORGE 1V1. BACON, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DIVCO-DETBOIT CORPORA- TKQN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. I

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed January 14, 1924. Serial No. 686,163.

The invention relates to a ste ring mechanism for motor vehicles, being more particularly applicable to delivery vehicles and of that type designed for house to house deliveries, as in the delivery of milk. It is the object of the invention to providemeans for controlling the steering from a plurality of points so as to avoid the necessity of the driver always returning to the same pointand thereby expediting his deliveries. The invention therefore consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

- In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle chassis provided with my improved steering mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

I For house to house deliveries, such as the delivery of milk, it is usual to employ horse drawn vehicles which can generally be controlled without the driver returning to his seat. Where motor vehicles are substituted, there is the objection that these are usually controlled from a single point, which neces-i sitates the driver entering the car each time it is shifted in position! With my improved construction the steering may be controlled from several points, as for instance from opposite ends of the car and from either side thereof. This, when associated with motor control mechanism from corresponding points, will enable the operator to easily and more expeditiously shift his car from house to house. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, A is the chassis frame, B the steering wheels, C the steering knuckles thereof, and D the con necting cross link, all of any suitable construction. E is a rock shaft which extends longitudinally of the chassis, preferably in the central plane thereof, being journaled at suitable points in bearings F. Depending from this rock shaft is the rock arm G which is connected by the link H with the rock arm l. on one of the steering knuckles. J are socket bearings engaging the shaft E and located at different points in the length thereof. is shown, two of these socket bearings J and J are arranged adjacent to the opposite ends of the shaft and one at the longitudinal center. K are lever arms engaging the sockets and extending upward to a suitable height for convenient control. Theend socket bearings J and J preferably slidably engage the will be readily apparent.

rocking by splines L. I This permits the shifting of each of said sockets from a position at the end of the shaft to a position further in on the chassis frame.

From the above it is believed that the operation and advantages of the present invention For instance, if the operator in returning to the vehicle approaches one end, he can steer from this end. He also has similar control from the opposite end, or, in case he approaches from either side, he can reach the central steering lever from either running board. Tn case he is at one end of the vehicle but desires to move the same in the reverse direction, he can face in this direction looking over the top of the load, which is limited in height, and by sliding the socket member such as J along the splines L room is provided for him to stand in rear of the lever K. V

It is to be understood that the motor control, which forms no part of the present in vention, may be also operable from each of the several points.

What T claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a vehicle chassis and steering mechanism therefor, of a rock shaft extending longitudinally of said chassis and opcratively connected to said steering n'iechanism, a plurality of socket hearings on said rock shaft at different points in the length thereof, certain of said sockets being keyed to said shaft but longitudinally adjustable thereon and an upwardly extending controlling lever for engaging said sockets.

2. The combination with a vehicle chassis and steering mechanism therefor, of a rock shaft operatively connected to said steering mechanism, and lever arms at a plurality of points directly engaging said rock shaft for rocking said shaft, certain of said lever arms being keyed to said shaft but longitudinally adjustable thereon.

3. The combination with a vehicle chassis and steering mechanism therefor, of a rock shaft extending longitudinally of said chassis and operatively connected to said steering mechanism, a plurality of socket bearings mounted at intervals along said rock shaft, one of the said socket bearings being rigidly mounted on the said shaft and others of the said socket bearings being sli'dably mounted thereon and arms adapted for detachable engagement with said socket bearings, said arms being adapted to be oscillated through on are thereby imparting rotational motion to saicl rock shaft.

4%. The ooni oinaiton with a vehicle chassis and steering mechanism therefor of a rock shaft extending longitulinally of said chassis and opei'atively connectetlto said steering mechanism, :1 plurality of socket hearings mountecl at intervals along; saicl rock shaft anti sliclable longitudinally thereof saicl socket bearings beingfixed for rotation with ssitl rock shaft, srins removztlaly received oy said socket hearings, aciaptecl to impart rotational .movement'to ssicl rock shaft by oscillation in a plane transversely of saicl rock shaft.

5. The combination with :1 vehicle chsssis anti steering mechanism theretoia of a lOClZ shaft extending longitudinally of ssicl chassis sncl opereitively connectecl-to ssicl steering noecllsnisin plurality of steering" controls comprising arms removahly mounted in hearing sockets cari iecl by said rock shaft nose "ings there ssicl steering controls moi oi saitl too;

for being movable longitudinal shaft and positionable at vs from the ends thereof 8. The combination with s and steering inechsnisin these; shaft for actuating the steerin a plurality of sockets splines? shaft for longitudinal adjustment thereon snot controlling arms tletachs oi engsgeehle in the ssicl sockets.

i. The combination with a vehicle chassis and steering mechanism there of s root: shaft sctnstin and control srms extending up ssitl shaft opposite encls termecliste "pcii in the length l n n a the encls 01 ssi-c ole chassis I, of o root: mechanism i in-- enereof, the

t being ti sclgustdistances to ssiel IOClI J 

